First Impressions of shooting a Luger

Heydrich · 08-23-2002, 08:36 PM

Ok, I finally took out my old 1918 DWM Luger and test fired it today. I went to my uncle’s house and fired many rounds (Wal-Mart Winchester ammo) through the pistol in the large field behind his house. This is the first pistol I have ever owned, but here are my observations anyway:

1.) A Luger is a very sleek little weapon indeed. Very balanced, and easy to hold. Recoil is manageable. I am very happy now with my purchase of this collectable. I’m going to keep it the rest of my life.

2.) I’m somewhat disappointed with the sights though. But they are ok. I’ve heard people in the forum describe the trigger pull as “gritty”, but I did not notice this tendency at all. Mine seemed sharp and crisp. Maybe it’s because I cleaned it and oiled it like crazy right after I bought the pistol.

3.) I like how the toggle jumps up and locks in place right in your face when the last round is discharged. No doubt that the gun is empty. My two magazines were easy to load also.

4.) The old DWM didn’t jam once. But it did misfire twice. And I think this was my fault anyway. This only occurred with the spare WW2 clip I bought for it from Sportsmensguild.com. I fired the first round from this clip, and then, click. Somehow, the magazine slipped back out a little after the first round. I re-inserted the clip, cocked it, fired the first round, and click again. I notice the magazine had slipped out a little again. I must not be jamming it in hard enough in. So, from then on, I rammed the loaded clip in pretty hard, and the problem goes away. Good thing I was not facing an enraged burglar when this happened.

5.) I’m not sure on its accuracy, since I was shooting at piles of dirt, pieces of wood, and bushes.

Can anyone give me any feedback on the misfire deal? Is it possible that my spare magazine is somehow faulty? Or that maybe the owner was somehow faulty in operating the thing. LOL.

Roadkill · 08-23-2002, 09:45 PM

Heydrich, glad you liked the Luger. I think the terminology you are using is misleading. What you are most likely refering to is a failure to feed, not a misfire. I understand a misfire is a round in the chamber, struck by the firing pin that doesn't ignite. This wouldn't be affected by the magazine positioning. Magazine positioning would definitely cause a failure to feed, therefore resulting in not having a round in the chamber and no firing. If the magazine doesn't sit up exactly right with the exact spring tension the Luger is the worst I've ever fired in that the bolt will ride over the round, not picking it up for chambering. Send the magazine that doesn't work down the line, the gun's magazine catch isn't aligning with the slot in the magazine well, keeping on jamming it in will wear the gun part down. Now you have an idea of why magazines were sn#d to each gun. Take the left grip off the gun, watch the magazine catch as you slowly insert the good magazine, then insert the other. Don't lose the magazine catch spring. With your background you should take to a Luger quite well.

RK <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Heydrich · 08-23-2002, 10:27 PM

RK, my bad, you are absolutely right. I should have called it a failure to feed problem. The pistol has a matching serial numbered magazine that came with it. I didn’t have any problems with that one. Just the spare WW2 one I bought later. I’ll do the test you mentioned. Thanks for the advice. [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Garfield · 08-23-2002, 10:48 PM

Heydrich:

Sounds as though the slot cut in the mag body was not made large enough to fully accept the mag catch. Usually, the top edge of the cut is a RCH to low when the mag is inserted and a positice lock is not achieved. Take the left grip off, with great care not to chip the upper rear corner, an insert the mag as RK suggested. compare the manner in which both mags seat. You should be able to tell why the aftermarket mag is not seating, if that is, indeed, the problem. With a 3 cornered Swiss jewelers file you should be able to remedy the problem by filing the top edge of the magazine, thereby allowing the mag catch to fully seat. Don't get carried away. Just take enough off to allow the catch to lock.

kidvett · 08-24-2002, 10:39 AM

Most of the jamming problems I had were related to faulty magazines. WWI mags have a weak spring, FXO's are OK, so are new aftermarket mags....

I made a selection in my mags lot: the presentation & collectible ones and the ones to shoot with.....I've used those with 9mm & 7.65mm without problems....

Over time I've also came across bad mags ( dented bodies ) that were beyond repair....had to trash them and keep parts for replacement...

Test the mags, ID them & enjoy shooting that LUGER...

kidvett [img]cool.gif[/img]

Heydrich · 08-24-2002, 10:18 PM

Ok, I think I figured out what was wrong with my spare WW2 magazine. Using the instructions given by RK in another thread, I punched out the pin that holds the magazine together, and completely disassembled it. The inside of the mag was full of tons of grease and oil! It was completely gunked up, I soaked the parts in acetone, and then Hoppes, and the spring action seems much better now. RK, kidvett, Garfield, you guys are great, thanks for the help! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

ichabod · 08-25-2002, 10:51 PM

Hmmm, well, I've had my P.08 since February......reckon I oughta put a round through it [img]wink.gif[/img] ? 'specially since I'm hopin' to use it to repel burglars ?

AGE · 08-26-2002, 12:51 AM

Don't trust your life on it without testing it.

Michigan Gunner · 09-02-2002, 08:50 PM

I also have recently purchased a Luger, a DWM
made in 1910. I fired it for the first time last
Friday. I only fired 10 rounds but function was
perfect even with a mis-matched magazine. The ammo I used was Mag-Tec 115 gr. FMJ.

The recoil seemed stronger than the same ammo fired in my Glock 19 but not a problem. POA was
about 2 inches high at 25 yds.

As for the sites, I believe that are intended for
use at longer ranges than is normal today. They do not hide the target. At close range, you would only use the front site or just point and fire.
I know this is true of other guns of the past and
may well be true for the Luger as well.

Any way, it sure was fun!!!!

Herb · 09-02-2002, 09:41 PM

Gunner, my references indicate that the sights on the Luger were factory set to be dead on at 50m. Try that and see what happens. I think that you will be right there as you indicated 2" high at 25m.

08-23-2002, 08:36 PM	#1
Heydrich Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	First Impressions of shooting a Luger Ok, I finally took out my old 1918 DWM Luger and test fired it today. I went to my uncle’s house and fired many rounds (Wal-Mart Winchester ammo) through the pistol in the large field behind his house. This is the first pistol I have ever owned, but here are my observations anyway: 1.) A Luger is a very sleek little weapon indeed. Very balanced, and easy to hold. Recoil is manageable. I am very happy now with my purchase of this collectable. I’m going to keep it the rest of my life. 2.) I’m somewhat disappointed with the sights though. But they are ok. I’ve heard people in the forum describe the trigger pull as “gritty”, but I did not notice this tendency at all. Mine seemed sharp and crisp. Maybe it’s because I cleaned it and oiled it like crazy right after I bought the pistol. 3.) I like how the toggle jumps up and locks in place right in your face when the last round is discharged. No doubt that the gun is empty. My two magazines were easy to load also. 4.) The old DWM didn’t jam once. But it did misfire twice. And I think this was my fault anyway. This only occurred with the spare WW2 clip I bought for it from Sportsmensguild.com. I fired the first round from this clip, and then, click. Somehow, the magazine slipped back out a little after the first round. I re-inserted the clip, cocked it, fired the first round, and click again. I notice the magazine had slipped out a little again. I must not be jamming it in hard enough in. So, from then on, I rammed the loaded clip in pretty hard, and the problem goes away. Good thing I was not facing an enraged burglar when this happened. 5.) I’m not sure on its accuracy, since I was shooting at piles of dirt, pieces of wood, and bushes. Can anyone give me any feedback on the misfire deal? Is it possible that my spare magazine is somehow faulty? Or that maybe the owner was somehow faulty in operating the thing. LOL.

08-25-2002, 10:51 PM	#7
ichabod User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 31 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hmmm, well, I've had my P.08 since February......reckon I oughta put a round through it [img]wink.gif[/img] ? 'specially since I'm hopin' to use it to repel burglars ? __________________ "No snowflake ever feels responsible for the avalanche." Haywood Yasumi

08-26-2002, 12:51 AM	#8
AGE User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 597 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Don't trust your life on it without testing it. __________________ Al Eggers (AGE) NRA Life Member

09-02-2002, 09:41 PM	#10
Herb User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah, in the land of the Sleeping Rainbow Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Gunner, my references indicate that the sights on the Luger were factory set to be dead on at 50m. Try that and see what happens. I think that you will be right there as you indicated 2" high at 25m. __________________ Utah, where gun control means a steady trigger pull

08-23-2002, 09:45 PM	#2
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	Heydrich, glad you liked the Luger. I think the terminology you are using is misleading. What you are most likely refering to is a failure to feed, not a misfire. I understand a misfire is a round in the chamber, struck by the firing pin that doesn't ignite. This wouldn't be affected by the magazine positioning. Magazine positioning would definitely cause a failure to feed, therefore resulting in not having a round in the chamber and no firing. If the magazine doesn't sit up exactly right with the exact spring tension the Luger is the worst I've ever fired in that the bolt will ride over the round, not picking it up for chambering. Send the magazine that doesn't work down the line, the gun's magazine catch isn't aligning with the slot in the magazine well, keeping on jamming it in will wear the gun part down. Now you have an idea of why magazines were sn#d to each gun. Take the left grip off the gun, watch the magazine catch as you slowly insert the good magazine, then insert the other. Don't lose the magazine catch spring. With your background you should take to a Luger quite well. RK <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

08-23-2002, 10:27 PM	#3
Heydrich Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	RK, my bad, you are absolutely right. I should have called it a failure to feed problem. The pistol has a matching serial numbered magazine that came with it. I didn’t have any problems with that one. Just the spare WW2 one I bought later. I’ll do the test you mentioned. Thanks for the advice. [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

08-23-2002, 10:48 PM	#4
Garfield User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A little SE of Nome Posts: 239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Heydrich: Sounds as though the slot cut in the mag body was not made large enough to fully accept the mag catch. Usually, the top edge of the cut is a RCH to low when the mag is inserted and a positice lock is not achieved. Take the left grip off, with great care not to chip the upper rear corner, an insert the mag as RK suggested. compare the manner in which both mags seat. You should be able to tell why the aftermarket mag is not seating, if that is, indeed, the problem. With a 3 cornered Swiss jewelers file you should be able to remedy the problem by filing the top edge of the magazine, thereby allowing the mag catch to fully seat. Don't get carried away. Just take enough off to allow the catch to lock.

08-24-2002, 10:39 AM	#5
kidvett User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 584 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Most of the jamming problems I had were related to faulty magazines. WWI mags have a weak spring, FXO's are OK, so are new aftermarket mags.... I made a selection in my mags lot: the presentation & collectible ones and the ones to shoot with.....I've used those with 9mm & 7.65mm without problems.... Over time I've also came across bad mags ( dented bodies ) that were beyond repair....had to trash them and keep parts for replacement... Test the mags, ID them & enjoy shooting that LUGER... kidvett [img]cool.gif[/img]

08-24-2002, 10:18 PM	#6
Heydrich Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ok, I think I figured out what was wrong with my spare WW2 magazine. Using the instructions given by RK in another thread, I punched out the pin that holds the magazine together, and completely disassembled it. The inside of the mag was full of tons of grease and oil! It was completely gunked up, I soaked the parts in acetone, and then Hoppes, and the spring action seems much better now. RK, kidvett, Garfield, you guys are great, thanks for the help! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

09-02-2002, 08:50 PM	#9
Michigan Gunner User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Michigan, on the border Posts: 75 Thanks: 2 Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts	I also have recently purchased a Luger, a DWM made in 1910. I fired it for the first time last Friday. I only fired 10 rounds but function was perfect even with a mis-matched magazine. The ammo I used was Mag-Tec 115 gr. FMJ. The recoil seemed stronger than the same ammo fired in my Glock 19 but not a problem. POA was about 2 inches high at 25 yds. As for the sites, I believe that are intended for use at longer ranges than is normal today. They do not hide the target. At close range, you would only use the front site or just point and fire. I know this is true of other guns of the past and may well be true for the Luger as well. Any way, it sure was fun!!!!